1 Kings 5  Modern English Version

Plans to Build the Temple^(A)

5 Now Hiram king of Tyre sent his servants to Solomon, for he had heard that they had anointed him king in place of his father, and Hiram had always loved David. ² And Solomon sent word to Hiram, saying,

³ “You know how David my father was unable to build a house for the name of the Lord his God because of the wars all around him, until the Lord put his enemies under his feet. ⁴ But now the Lord my God has given me peace on every side, so that there is neither adversary nor misfortune. ⁵ So know that I plan to build a house to honor the name of the Lord my God, just as the Lord spoke to my father David, saying, ‘Your son, whom I will set on your throne after you, shall build a house to honor My name.’

⁶ “Now therefore command that cedar trees from Lebanon be cut down for me, and my servants shall be with your servants, and I will pay your servants whatever you command, for you know that there are none among my people who can cut timber like the Sidonians.”

⁷ When Hiram heard the words of Solomon, he rejoiced greatly and said, “Blessed be the Lord this day, who has given David a wise son over this great people.”

⁸ Hiram sent to Solomon, saying,

“I have considered the things which you contacted me about, and I will do all you asked concerning timber of cedar and fir. ⁹ My servants shall bring them down from Lebanon to the sea, and I will send them by sea in floats to the place that you shall name and will cause them to be discharged into your care there, and in return you will meet my wishes by giving food for my household.”

¹⁰ So Hiram gave Solomon cedar trees and fir trees as he desired. ¹¹ Solomon gave Hiram twenty thousand kors^[a] of wheat for his household and twenty baths^[b] of pure oil. This is what Solomon gave to Hiram each year. ¹² The Lord gave Solomon wisdom, as He promised, and there was peace between Hiram and Solomon as they made a treaty together.

¹³ King Solomon drafted men from all Israel, totaling thirty thousand men. ¹⁴ He sent them to Lebanon in turns, ten thousand a month, with each spending a month in Lebanon and two months at home. Adoniram administered the labor force. ¹⁵ Solomon had seventy thousand porters and eighty thousand stonecutters in the mountains, ¹⁶ not counting the chief of Solomon’s officers who were over the work, three thousand three hundred, who ruled over the people who did the work. ¹⁷ At the king’s command, they quarried out great, costly stones in order to lay the foundation of the house with dressed stones. ¹⁸ Solomon’s builders and Hiram’s builders, along with the stonemasons, cut them and prepared timber and stones to build the house.